DETROIT, Michigan (Next Stamina) — A fatal propane heater fire at an abandoned Detroit elementary school on Wednesday afternoon left one person dead and another hospitalized with severe burns.

Why it matters: The incident highlights the ongoing safety risks associated with “unlawful entry” into vacant structures and the dangers of using portable heating units in unventilated or unmonitored spaces.

• Initial confusion: Emergency services originally responded to reports of an explosion or pipe bomb, triggering a federal response.
• Property history: Officials noted the building owner has been “diligent” in securing the facility, yet trespassing remains a persistent issue.
• Correction of facts: Police clarified the victims were not attempting utility theft or copper stripping, as was initially suspected.

The state of play: The fire broke out around 3:00 p.m. near Brainard Street and 4th Avenue, in a building formerly used as an elementary school near the Lodge Freeway.

• The scene: Investigators recovered a propane heater from a tent inside the building where individuals appeared to be squatting.
• Victim status: One individual was pronounced dead at the scene; the second remains in stable condition at a local hospital.
• Emergency response: Because the 911 call reported an explosion, federal authorities were briefly involved before Detroit Fire took the lead.

What they’re saying: Deputy Chief Franklin Hayes provided an update to the media, WXYZ reported, clarifying that the situation was a tragic accident rather than a criminal explosion.

• On the victims: “We can confirm right now that we have one individual that has lost their life, one that is at a local hospital getting treatment for severe burns.”
• On the building’s security: “The owner has been very diligent as you look around the facility now to secure it, but it still has been subject to being unlawfully entered.”

What’s next: The Detroit Fire Department is leading the investigation into the exact cause of the heater fire.